Seattle Ranks Near Top For New College Grads

New college graduates are often focused on two big things: moving into their own place, and getting a good job after graduation. A new study by Rent.com ranked cities across the U.S., based on their friendliness to new college graduates’ most pressing needs. While some grads buy homes right away, the majority rent for 2-5 years after college graduation before buying their first home.

The availability of homes in Seattle is somewhat tight, and housing prices are certainly above the national average. However, the strong job market and higher-than-average incomes for new college grads outweight those factors.

Seattle’s mean annual income stands at $54,800, according to the study. For a single college graduate, that was plenty to make up for the median price to rent a one bedroom apartment in the city: $1,300/mo.